Endless-chain conveyer



Jan, 20. 1

D. W. COE

ENDLESS CHAIN CONVEYER Filed A 'ril 26, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ENDLESS CHAIN CONVEYER Filed April 26, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,IWQWZOV. V Banded W COe Patented Jan. 20, 1925.

UNITED STATES DANIEL W. COE, OF IMIONTREAL, QUEBEC,

CANADA, ASSIGNOR-T0 MEADJVIORRISON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF EAST BOSTSN, MASSACHUSETTS, A'CORPORATION 0F MAINE.

ENDLESS-CHAIN GONVEYER.

Application filed April 26,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL W. Con, a citizen ofthe United States, and a resident. of Montreal, in the Province of Quebec and Dominion of Canada, have invented an Improvement in Endless-Chain Couveyers, of whiclrthe following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention aims to provide a novel and improved endless chain conveyer, having many advantages, among them low cost of manufacture, great strength and durability, and convenience and low cost of replacement of worn parts.

The'invention will be best understood by reference'to the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsof one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In. the drawings:

lis an elevation of a portion of a conveyer exemplifying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of some of the parts, looking in the same direction as Fig. l

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Fig. i is a'perspective view of a terminal portion of one of the'linksand a portion of the shaft which isreceived therein; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the opposite terminal portion of another link, and a bushing which is received therein and presents a bearing for 'the shaft shown in Referringto the drawings, and to the em- -bod-iinent-' of the iinventionwhich is selected for eztemplification, and having reference first to Fig. l, there is shown a conveyer comprising a chain made up of a series of sets oflinksneacli set con'iprising two pairs, --:and each pairbeing composed of two links Sand 8. The several sets of links are pivotally eonne'cte'd'endto end by pivots 10, which a-l'so'serve'as shafts'for wheels 12, which in practice run on usual'tracks not hereinshown. Each set of links affords a support for a usual gravity bucket 14, havingr'cams 16 secured thereto and presenting bearings for coaxially aligned pivots 1.8,ea ch 1922. Serial No. 556,652.

of which receives support in the links of one pair. Each pivot extends through openings provided in both links, and isencircled by a sleeve 20, to which it is secured as by a cotter pin 22, said sleeve constituting a spacer for the links, maintaining a predetermined minimum space between their intermediate portions. Removal of the cotter pins permits the pivots to be withdrawn in outward directions from the hearings in their respective cams, thereby permitting the bucket to be removed from the chain without dismounting the latter.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the links 6 and 8 are oiiset toward each other, thereby affording a relatively wide spacing of one pair of ends, and a relativelynarrower spacing of the other pair, the narrowly spaced ends of one pair being received between-the widely spaced ends of the next adjacent pair (see Fig. 1). This is conveniently accomplished by employing links composed of steel plates having widely spaced parallel portions 24 and 24: convergingportions 26 and 26, and narrowly spaced parallel portions 28 and 28. In the:present example, the=links-are bent inwardly towardeach other, commencing at a point substantially midway between their ends,that is to say, where the pivots l8'extend therethrough. The form and arrangement of the links is such that each pair, with its connections. possesses a truss-like characteristic, giving the chain greatlateral strength and tending to steadythe same when in operation. Moreover, the arrangement of the links with relation to the wheel and theshaft is such that the pull on the chain has little tendency to bend the shaft.

Referring now to Fig. 4, the shaft 10 is held against turning movement with rela tion to the link 6, as by providing said shaft with a flat surface 30, conveniently formed by slabbing thesanie by means-of a milling cutter. The sla-bbed-oif portion of the shaft is received in and held against turning movement by an opening 32 provided in. the link (5, the perimeter of which opening is thesame-shape as the cross section of the slabbed-off portion of the shaft. The link is held in place on the shaft by a cotter pin 34, and a washer 36 interposed betweensaid pin and the link. Therorrespending end ofthe other link is held in place in similar manner by a cotter pin 34 and a washer 36.

The narrowly spaced ends of each pair of links are provided with bushings 3S and E58, atfording bearings in which the shaft turns. Turning movement of these bushings in their respective links is prevented by providing each with two flat parallel surfaces -10 and ll). conveniently formed by slabbing them off by means of a milling cutter. The links are provided with openings l2 and 4'2, which receive the bushings, the perimeter of each opening having the same outline as the cross-sectional shape of the slaJbbed-otf portion of its bushing, the latter thereby being held against turning movement in its link. as will be evident from an examination of Fig. Each bushing extends at its opposite ends beyond the link in which it is received, and encircling the projecting ends of the bushing are washers M and M, which present end bearings for the wheel 12, and: for the terminal portions of the other pair of links. 1

, Each wheel is provided with a chamber 4-6, which may be filled with luln'icant througha filling plug- 48. The lubricant will lubricate the bearings of the wheel on the shaft, and will work along the shaft and lubricate the bearing surfaces of the bushings ontheshaft. as well as the washers which receive the end thrust.

The links of the described chain are much stronger and moredurable than the inalle able iron links usually employed. hen

wear eventually takes place, it is nnneccs sary to supply new links, because the Wear is taken. on the bushings, and it is a simple and inexpensive matter to replace the latter. This ist rue also of the washers, which, when worn, can be replaced at slight expense' 'Having thus described one embodiment of the invention, but without limiting myself thereto,what l claim and desire by Letters Patent to secure is:

1. In; a conveyer chain, the combination of a series of links arranged in pairs, one pair of ends of each pair of links being received between the ends of the links of an adjacent pair, a series of wheels, each receivedbetween the first-mentioned ends. and

a series ofl shafts on and in contact with which said wheels, respectively, are mounted to turn, said shafts affording the sole pivotal connections between said pairs of links.

2. In a conveyer chain, the combination of a series of links arranged in pairs, one pair of ends of each pair of links beingreceived between the ends of the links of. an adjacent pair, a series of wheels, each received between the first-mentioned ends. and a series of shafts on which said wheels. respectively, are mounted to turn. said shafts alfording pivotal connections between said pairs of links and being rotatably mounted in one and non-rotatably mounted in the other.

3. In a conveycr chain, the combination of a series of links arranged in pairs. each pair having one pair of ends spaced apart a lesser distance than the other ends of the same pair of links and being received between the ends of the more widely spaced ends of an adjacent pair, a series of wheels, each received between the more narrowly spaced pair of ends, and a series of shafts on and in contact with which said wheels. respectively. are mounted to turn, said shafts affording the sole pivotal connections between said pairs of links.

4;. In a conveyor chain, the combination of a series of links arranged in pairs. the links of each pair having converging sides, thcrcby affording; a wide spacing! of one pair of ends and a relatively narrower spacing of the other pair of ends. the narrowly spaced ends of one pair being received between the widely spaced ends of the next adjacent pair, a series of wheels. each received between the narrowly spaced ends of one pair of links. a series of shafts on which said wheels, respectively. are n'iounted to turn. said shafts affording pivotal connections between said pairs of links. each sl aft having non-rotatable enganemcnt with one link of one pair through which it extends. the links of thc other pair being: provided with bushings having non-rotatable engagement therewith and affording bearings for such shaft.

5. Tu a chain. the. combination of two links, each presenting a non-circular opening. a non-circular bushing non-rotalably received in one of said openings, a pivot presentinga cylindrical part received in said bushing: and turning in one link and presenting a noncircular part nonrotatably received in the non-circular opening of the other link.

6. In a chain. the combination of two links. each presenting a non-circular opening, a bushing presenting a non-circular part non-rotatably received in the opening of one of said links, said bushing projectingbeyond opposite faces of such link. washers encirclingsuch projecting: parts of said bushing. on OppOSll'G sides. respectively. of such link. and a pivot received and turning in said bushing and presenting: a noncircular part non-rotatably received in the non-circular opening of the other link.

7. In a chain, the combination of two links, each presenting a non-circular opening. a bushing presenting a non-circular part non rotatably received in the opening of one of said links. said bushing projecting beyond opposite faces of such link. washers encircling such projecting parts of 1 Jill said bushing on opposite sides, respectively, of such lin a pivot received and turning in said bushing and presenting a noncircular part non-rotatably received in the non-circular opening of the other link, and a Washer encircling said non-circular part of said pivot.

8. In a chain, the combination of two links, each presenting a non-circular opening, a bushing presenting: a non-circular part non-rotatably received in the opening of one of said links, said bushing projecting beyond opposite faces of such link, washers encircling such projecting parts of said bushing on opposite sides, respectively, of such link, a pivot received and turning in said bushing and presenting a non-circular part non-rotatably received in the noncircular opening of the other link, and a washer presenting a non-circular opening which non-rotatably receives the non circular part or said pivot.

9. In a chain, the combination of a cylindrical pivot presenting a slabbed-ofi? flat face, a bushing having a cylindrical opening in which the cylindrical portion of said pivot turns, said bushing having a cylindrical external portion having a slabbed-off flat face, two links pivotally connected by said pivot, one presenting an opening fitting the fiat face of said bushing and the-other presenting an opening fitting the flat face of said pivot.

10. In a conveyer, the combination of a series of buckets; a series of pivots arranged in axially aligned pairs, loosely received in bearings presented by said buckets, one pair for each bucket and affording a pivotal support therefor; a series of links arranged in sets, each set aii'ording a support for one pair of said pivots and thus affording a support for the bucket carried by such pivots, each set comprising a pair of links provided substantially midway between their ends with aligned openings which receive one of said pivots; a series oi pairs of sleeves, one encircling each pivot and maintaining a minimum spacing of the pair of links by which such pivot is supported; means reinovably to secure each pivot to its encircling sleeve; a series of shafts connecting both pairs of links of each set and pivot-ally connecting adjacent ends of said sets of links, each shaft having a flattened terminal portion non-rotatably received in a corre spondingly shaped opening in one oi said links; a set of bushings encircling each of said shafts, each set comprising two pairs, each bushing having a flattened portion non-rotatably received in one of said links; washers encircling the ends of each bush- .ing; and a series of wheels arranged in pairs, one pair mounted on each of said shafts, each wheel being received between adjacent ends of two pairs of links pivotally connected by the shaft of such wheel.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

DANIEL W. 00E. 

